Let's say a student borrows $10,000 at a 6.5 percent fixed rate, with a standard 10-year repayment term. With the Prime discount, she could save $303 over the lifetime of the loan. Throw in the automatic payment discount, and she could save $453 over 10 years.

PwC’s contribution will cover about a third of the payments he and his wife make against their loans, giving him more freedom to plan for the future. “You do think, ‘When will we ever be able to afford a house,’ or ‘We’d love to start a family down the road,’” Papez said. “But the rate of saving for that kind of stuff is really reduced by the student debt that we carry.